English National Ballet to Present Raymonda by Tamara Rojo at The Bristol Hippodrome

English National Ballet is delighted to return to UK touring this autumn with Raymonda by its Artistic Director Tamara Rojo CBE. Having received its world premiere at the London Coliseum in January 2022, Raymonda will be performed at the Bristol Hippodrome from 23–26 November 2022. Tickets are on sale now. 

Image: English National Ballet Dancers in Tamara Rojo's Raymonda, credit Johan Persson

Tamara Rojo CBE, English National Ballet’s Artistic Director, said: “English National Ballet is committed to bringing world class ballet to the widest possible audience and so I am particularly delighted to return to UK touring and in particular to Bristol and Southampton with Raymonda – and we can’t wait to perform for audiences at these partner venues." 

“Raymonda is a beautiful ballet, with extraordinary music, exquisite and intricate original choreography, but with a female lead who I felt deserved more agency in her own story. Working with my incredible creative team I have set Raymonda in a new historical setting to bring something unique, relevant and inspiring for audiences. This story is about many themes; duty, war, patriotism, culture, but at its centre are the nurse characters, inspired by Florence Nightingale’s vision, drive and passion. Reflecting on recent years we have seen how nurses and many others in the medical sector sacrifice so much to take care of people. I hope this, in some small way, pays homage to them.”

Updating the ballet’s setting to the Crimean war and drawing inspiration from the ground-breaking spirit and work of the women supporting the war effort, including Florence Nightingale, Raymonda is recast as a young woman with a calling to become a nurse. Starring a huge cast of dancers, this critically acclaimed adaptation keeps the best of the 19th-century original including Alexander Glazunov’s score, adapted and edited by Gavin Sutherland and Lars Payne, which is performed live by English National Ballet Philharmonic. 

Principal casting will be announced shortly. To book tickets, please visit The Bristol Hippodrome website.